Wednesday, August 23, 2006

was saddled with the dreaded summer on call shift so I didn't have much more than a half day to devote to climbing. I decided a summit of the Rampart Ridge high point would afford me the proper amount of time. I used the fisherman's trail that begins at the end of the logging road that runs along Rocky Run Creek. This is a spur road that branches off of Road 4934 at around 3300ft. The road is in great shape other than the encroaching brush. I was suprised to find three vehicles at the trailhead along with an empty tent. I was a little nervous due to my ankle injury of two weeks ago. I thought a day to test the waters would be good. As it turned out the ankle only gave me minimal discomfort. I took the side trail to Lake Laura only because I have passed by it on previous trips. As I suspected it wasn't really worth the short side trip. I made Lake Lillian in about 50 minutes. You can plainly see the climber's on the north side of the lake. I needed to use this trail to access the summit ridge. There is a way trail that goes around the lake, I chose not to use this trail because there is some tricky rock work to make around the lake. I instead backtracked a couple hundred feet to another way trail that is quite defined that climbs east up and over the rock and then drops to regains the way trail. I proceeded up the climber's trail making the ridge with little problem. It was very cloudy so I was unable to see my objective. I found a well worn boot path going my way so I joined it only to summit a point 200ft lower than my intened goal. I was really running short on time but I just couldn't be so close without closing the deal. I dropped down a sandy gully to one of the many area tarns. The desent in this gully was pretty straightforward. I rejoined the trail that continues on to the Uppermost Rampart Lake. Just as the trail crests a small saddle and drops into the Rampart Lake Basin there is another climber's trail which takes you easily to the 5870ft summit(#43 on the Homecourt 100).I was glad that I was able to get cell reception to call work to see if I had to work, I thankfully didn't. The way out went a little slower than I would have liked, I just didn't feel like my ankle could take any rapid descents.

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About Me

I have spent my whole life exploring the lakes, valleys and high points of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. I would love to share this ongoing odyssey. When I was younger, exploring each and every lake was the goal. In recent years I have moved on to the pursuit of climbing The Home Court and Back Court 100 peaks that encompass this great area. I hope this blog both inspires and educates.

The wilderness was originally designated the Alpine Lakes Limited Area in 1946.After exhausting debates, public meetings and with even a request by the Forest Service to veto, President Ford signed the Alpine Lakes Area Management Act into law on the afternoon of July 12, 1976, reportedly saying “anywhere so beautiful should be preserved